RPO TO RECEIVE $30K IN NYSCA GRANTS

Providing critical support in recovering from COVID-19 pandemic 

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) will receive $30,000 in state funding from New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to provide critical support in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced last week that 1,032 arts organizations across New York State have been awarded almost $32 million in vital funding. In addition to the RPO, about 30 other Finger Lakes organizations will receive from $5,000 to $30,000 in funding, including Gateways Music Festival, Garth Fagan Dance, PUSH Physical Theatre, Friends of Ganondagan, and Susan B. Anthony House.

“Arts and culture are a key part of New York’s identity, and while the past two years have been challenging, we are taking action to ensure a strong comeback,” Governor Hochul said. “This $32 million is the latest significant investment in the State’s unprecedented efforts to strengthen the arts and welcome the world back to experience New York’s creativity.”

The funding was broken down into several categories: Regrowth and Capacity, Statewide Community Regrants, and Partnership Grants. Organizations applied for funding in September by submitting project proposals. The funding received is earmarked for those projects, which include paying artists, rehiring staff, and implementing new programs.

“We applied for and will receive funding for three very impactful projects,” explains RPO VP of Development Robert Dermody. “One is a ROCmusic mentorship program utilizing the time and talents of eight RPO musicians. Another is support for a full-orchestra, Sensory-Friendly concert, and the third is continuing our vital digital educational content, which allows for anytime/anywhere learning.”

“As we approach the RPO’s centennial, we are focused on finding new ways both to make the RPO accessible to everyone, and to support access to music education for all children in the greater Rochester community,” says RPO President & CEO Curtis L. Long. “These grants from the State of New York will help us make progress in both of these areas.”

ABOUT THE RPO: The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its origins in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Music Director Andreas Delfs joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, Mark Elder, Ward Stare, and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, now in his 29th season, has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his tenure with the RPO. The RPO reaches more than 15,000 youth through its specific education programs.

About the New York State Council on the Arts: The Council on the Arts preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. The Council upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts, including dedicated support for arts education and underrepresented communities.  The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov.

Media please note: High-resolution images and other media assets for the 2022-23 Season can be found at https://bit.ly/3Rki4CL. Interviews and photo/footage opportunities are also available.